Sesame Oil Shows Promise in Alleviating Autoimmune EncephalomyelitisA Natural Hope for MS Research

Introduction

Modulation of Cytokines and Disease Severity

Researchers observed notable benefits of sesame oil in mice induced with EAE:

  • Delayed Onset of Symptoms: First signs appeared 3 days later in sesame oil-treated mice versus untreated ones.
  • Reduced Severity: Treated mice exhibited significantly lower symptom severity (P=0.001) and experienced delayed disease progression.
  • Weight Loss Prevention: Mice receiving sesame oil maintained higher body weights compared to controls (P=0.01).

This improvement is attributed to lower levels of IFN-γ and IL-17, two cytokines strongly implicated in autoimmune inflammation.

Immunological Insights: TH1, TH17 and TH2 Response

The immune-balancing role of sesame oil was explored through cytokine analysis:

  • IFN-γ (TH1 Pathway): Downregulated significantly in both mRNA and protein levels (P=0.02 and P=0.0003).
  • IL-17 (TH17 Pathway): Also decreased substantially (P=0.01 and P=0.001), indicating reduced inflammatory response.
  • IL-10 (TH2 Pathway): Although increased, the rise was not statistically significant—suggesting mild promotion of regulatory immunity.
  • TGF-β (Treg Pathway): No significant differences were observed.

These changes suggest that sesame oil downregulates pro-inflammatory pathways (TH1 and TH17) while subtly promoting regulatory ones.

Broader Implications and Natural Immune Modulators

Given that MS remains a largely incurable condition with complex immune triggers, identifying natural modulators like sesame oil opens new preventive avenues. Previous findings have shown that sesame oil has antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and apoptotic effects on immune cells.

Furthermore, sesame oil’s ability to shift immune responses toward TH2 dominance may have implications for both autoimmune and allergic conditions, warranting further investigation.

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Final Thoughts

This study highlights the potential of sesame oil as an adjunct or preventive therapy in autoimmune disorders like MS. While more human trials are needed, the reduction in key inflammatory markers is a promising step forward.

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